The Vietnamese food is indeed an important part of the Vietnamese culture. This culinary art as any other art has been influenced by different cultural currents. Over centuries, the Hanoian culinary art evolved thanks to the influence of different civilisations and more recently thanks the rural exodus. Indeed, all neighbour areas and regions of Hanoi have their own and unique specialities. Enriched by its thousand years of history, Hanoi offers the best specialities of the Red River Delta.
For all these reasons, Hanoi and more particularly its Old Quarter is a must-do. Restaurants, street food, irresistible smells and beautiful stalls everywhere… That’s why the Old Quarter is so charming.
1. Bánh mì
The BBC (English channel TV) has announced that the bánh mì, a Vietnamese sandwich, was the best sandwich of the world. Salad, cucumbers, fresh coriander, grilled meat and/or egg, sauce ; all these ingredients are stuffed in a hot and crispy piece of bread. Versions are endless.
2. Phở
The Phở (rice noodle broth with beef or chicken meat) is probably the Hanoian dish the most popular among foreigners. Even CNN, the American TV channel gave it 28th place in its ranking of the world’s best dishes. The Pho Bo (the beef one) is listed in many worldwide rankings of gastronomy. Thanks to the fresh herbs offered with it, this dish is full of flavour. To be able to taste a real pho and discover its delicacy you will need to travel to Vietnam.
3. Bún chả (rice vermicelli with grilled pork meat)
An irresistible dish of the Hanoian street food. It’s a mix of barbecued pork meat, salad and rice vermicelli served with a delicate but tasteful nuoc mam sauce.
4. Nộm bò khô
The salad of green papaya with beef jerky called in Vietnamese nộm bò khô (salad of beef jerky), is a dish particularly appreciated by young people. It is composed of grated green papaya, fresh herbs, beef jerky, peanuts and a sauce made with nước mắm (salted fish).
5. Bún Bò
A broth from the region of Huê. The Bún Bò is made with a broth perfumed with lemongrass, rice noodles and pieces of beef or pork meat (like pig leg). For chili lovers, a small spicy condiment is offered with it. Good Appetite.
6. Nem ou Cha gio
A delicious dish composed of small rolls usually known by Westerners as “nem rolls”. The rolls are composed of fried rice papers stuffed with crab, pork, onions, fresh herbs and mushrooms. Fried in oil, the nem rolls must be eaten hot and crispy.
7. Cha ca – grilled fish on fresh dill
This Hanoian speciality is so famous that many tourists want to try it while visiting the capital city. Once grilled on coal, the fish is eaten warm with noodles, grilled peanuts and fresh herbs. But it’s the mam tôm, the paste of fermented shrimps that makes the whole difference.
8. Goi Cuon – Spring rolls
The dish is traditionally made with rice papers rolls stuffed with rice vermicelli, slim slices of boiled pork meat, shrimps, salad and some soya sprouts and served with the famous soya sauce.
9. Banh xeo – the pancake of Southern Vietnam
The banh xeo is a pancake stuffed with different ingredients like pork, shrimps, onions, soja sprouts or mushrooms. It’s eaten with lettuce leaves, fresh mint or coriander and last but not least a sauce made with nuoc mam, sugar, lemon and little bit of chili.
10. Bia hơi
Talking over an ultralight glass of beer like the bia hoi (draft beer) with friends during the afternoon, enjoying a cup of tea flavoured with lemongrass or a glass of iced green tea ; these are daily pleasures loved by inhabitants of the capital city and other cities around the country.